Gravel-machine.



H. T. SYKES. GRAVEL MACHINE. APPucATIoN FILED JAN. 13. |915.

l 9 l M. M n

Patented Apr. 25,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

HENRY '.IL. S'YKES, OF NEW LONDON, MISSOURL ASSIGNOR. 0F ONE-HALF TO A.VICTOR ELY, OF NEW LONDON, MISSOURI.

GVEL-JVIACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 25., 1916..

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that l, HENRY T. SYKES, a citizen -of the United States, anda resident of New London, in the county of Ralls and State of Missouri,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Gravel-Machines, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in gravel machines, and has for itsobject to provide a machine of the character specified, for use inexcavating gravel from gravel pits Whether above or below water, and ofthe class adapted to be operated by draft apparatus arranged at adistance as for instance an endless belt, wherein a scraper is providedsupported by wheels, and movable with respect to the wheels into yandout of loading position, and wherein mechanism is provided in connectionwith the scraper and the wheels for automatically lifting the scraperinto inoperative position when loaded, and operated by the loading ofthe scraper.

A further object is'to provide mechanism in connection with the scraperand the draft apparatus for transferring the draft from the liftingmechanism directly to the scraper after the scraper has been loaded.

ln the drawings Figure 1 is a top plan view of the improved scraper,Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2*2 of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a perspectiveview of the releasing mechanism, Fig. 4- is an enlarged section on theline 4 4 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical section of aportion of the draft mechanism.

rlhe present embodiment of the invention comprises a scraper bodysubstantially U- shaped in cross section and consisting of a bottom 1and sides 2, integral with the bottom, and the front ends of the sidesare beveled as shown at 3, while the front edge of the bottom is roundedas shown at 4. rlFhe upper edges of the sides of the scraper arereinforced by angle bars 5, and the said bars are extended beyond thescraper at the front edge thereof, the extended portions of the barsconverging inwardly toward each other as Iindicated at 6, to an integralconnection at The portions of the bars 5, 6 and 7 are ntegral 'as beforestated, being one continuous piece of metal bent to shape and oneportion of the angle material lits against the inner face of the sldesat the top and is secured thereto in any suitable manner, while theother portion extends laterally inward flush with the top of the sides.The horizontal portions of the angle material are connected by front andrear cross bars'8 and 8a of angle material, and by intermediate crossbars 9 of channel material, and arranged with the channel downward.

Front and rear axles 10 and 10a are journaled in sectional bearings l1on the horizontal portions of the bars 5, and each axle is provided witha pair of laterally offset spindles 12, the spindles of each axle beingoffset in the same direction and being in alinement, and wheels 13 arejournaled on the spindles. Each of the axles 10 and 10a is providedintermediate its ends with a laterally offset crank pin 14 and 14a,respectively, and each pin is connected to the adjacent axle by parallelarms 15 and 15, the said arms being integral with the axle and the crankpin.

Plates 16 and 16a are arranged longitudinally of the body between thecross bars 9, the plate 16 being at approximately the center of thebody, while the plate 16a is lateral with respect to the body.

A toothed sector 17 is secured to the cross bars 9 at the plate 16a, anda lever 18 is pivoted to the plate 16a as indicated at 19, at the centerof the sector. The lever 18 is provided with the usual latch mechanismfor coperating with the `sector to hold the lever in adjusted position,and the lever is connected to the crank pin 14a byl means of a yoke. Theyoke comprises a body 20, having a bearing journaled on the -crank pin,and parallel arms 21, which extend on oppo site sides of the lever, andare pivoted thereto by a bolt 22. I

lt will be obvious thatywhen the lever is released from the latchmechanism and swung forwardly from the position shown in Fig. 1, thespindles 12 of the axle will be moved rearwardly and upwardly to bringthem nearer to the horizontal plane of the axle 10, and this movement ofthe spindles willrlower the rear end of the body with respect to thesupporting surface of the wheels. The front axle is similarly arranged,being rotated by means of a lever 23, which is pivoted as indicated at24 on the plate 16.

A sector 25 is secured to the cross bars 9 at the plate 16, and the saidsector is provided with a single tooth 26. The lever 1s provided with alatch 27, mounted to slide in bearings 28 on the lever toward and fromthe upper edge of the sector, and a guard 29 is secured to the lever,the guard engaging-the opposite face of the sector from the lever'toprevent lateral movement of the lever with respect to the sector. Theupper end of the latch is reduced to pass through the uppermost bearing28, and a coll sprmg 30 is arranged between the uppermost bearing andthe body of thevlatch, the spring acting normally to press the latchdownwardly.' The .lever 23 is connected to the crank pin 14 by means ofa yoke-shaped link, comprising a body 31, having a bearlng for engagingthe crank pin, and parallel arms 32, extending on opposite sides of thelever and pivoted thereto as indicated at 33.

It will be obvious that when the lever 23 is swung rearwardly from theposition shown in Figs. 1 and 2', the spindles 12 of the axle 10 will bemoved forwardly and upwardly toward the horizontal plane of the axle 10to lower the front end of the body with respect to the supportingsurface of the wheel.

' When the lever is moved to its rearmost po-l sition and the latch 27is engaged with the single tooth or notch 26 of the sector, the frontend of the scraper will be in loading position, that is, the front edgeof the bottom will be at the level of the lowest portions of the wheels,so that as the scraper is drawn forward the front edge will cut beneaththe surface of the ground and will load the body. y

The draft apparatus which may be of any desired character as forinstance, a ,reelrotated from any source of power, is connected vto thescraper by means of a cable 34. One

end of the cable 34 is connected to a crank pin 35,- which connects theends of the arms 15 remote from the axle 10. It will be noted that thesaid arms are extended beyond the crank pin 14, and that the extendedends are connected by the crank pin 35. A clip 36 is j ournaled on tothe pin, and the outer end of lthe clip has a split 'socket 36a, forreceiving theend of the cable, and the sections of the socket areclamped on tothe end of the cable by means of a bolt 37. From the clip,the cable passes forwardly and downwardly through one of the portions 38of an angle plate, consisting of the portion 38 and a portion 38aarranged at an obtuse angle with respect to the portion 38 and securedto the vertical portion of the portion 7 of the bars 5-6-7, by means ofa bolt and nut 39. The portion 38 of the clip extends downwardly andrearwardly, and is provided with an opening through which the cableextends. A pulley 40 is journaled on a bolt 41, which is supported by abracket 42, secured to the outer face of the vertical portion of theportion 7 of the bar 5-6-7 and having a pair of laterally spaced bearingarms 43, for. holding the bolt. The cable passes beneath the pulley 40and from thence to the reel, and after winding upon the reel a number ofturns, the bight of the cable passes back to the scraper and beneathpulleys 44, journaled in substantially U-shaped brackets 45, supportedby the front and rear cross bars on the opposite side of the plate 16from the plate 16a. This portion of the cable then passes to theopposite bank of the gravel pit and over a pulley and then again to thescraper. The opposite end of the cable from that connected with the clip36 is connected to the lever 23.

The pivot pin 33 which connects the arms 32 of the yoke-shaped link tothe lever also passes through openings in the ends of oppositelyarranged straps 46 and 47. The plates extend rearwardly and areconnected by a pin or bolt 48. The end of the cable is doubled over thepin or bolt-48 between the arms, and is then secured to the cable bymeans of a clamp 49.

A stop in the form of a sleeve 50 is secured to the cable at the endadjacent to the clip 36, by means of bolts and nuts 51, and the stop isadjustable on the cable. The stop is designed to engage the stop plate38 to transfer the draft from the arms 15 of the front axle directly tothe scraper.

During the loadin ofthe scraper with the front end thereof 1n loadingposition, the draft is on the pin 35. The lever 23 is at this timelocked with the latch in engagement with the notch 26 and when thescraper is loaded the lever is released from the notch, so thatcontinuous draft on the cable will raise the front end of the scraper.When this happens the stop 50 engages the stop plate 38.

The latch is released from means of a lever 52. The lever is pivoted tothe sector as indicated at 53 and thev upper end of the lever is bentlaterally to extend through the notch beyond the opposite face .of thesector as indicated at 54, and between the latch and the bottom of thenotch. The lower end of the lever below the pivot 53 is provided with aseries of openings 55, for engagement by a pin 56, which connects thearms 57 of a fork on the adjacent end of a link 58 with the lever. Theopposite end of the link is provided with a series of openings 59, forengagement by a pin 60, which connects the[arms 61 of a4 fork on theupper the notch by end of a lever to be described, with the link.

meente the lever on both sides, and being arranged l near the center ofthe scraper and near the rear thereof.

lt will be evident that when the plate is moved rearwardly, the upperend of the lever will be swung f rwardly and the link 58 will swing thelo er end of the lever 52 forwardly. The upper end of the lever and thelug 54 will be swung rearwardly to release the latch 27 from the notch26. The rear of the scrapper is closed by a door 66, which is hinged at67 to the rear cross bar 8a.

Coil springs 68 encircle the pintles of the hinges, and the said springsact normally to hold the gate closed. Latch mechanism is also providedfor this purpose, the said mechanism comprising resilient latches 69,each of which is rigidly secured to the adjacent side of the scraper asindicated at 70. Each latch is provided at its outer end with a catchfor engaging outside of a lug 71, on the adjacent end of the door orgate. The

latches 69 are resilient and would normally stand out of engagement withthe lugs 71. Means is provided however, for forcing each latch intoengagement with the lug and for holding it in this position. rllhe saidmechanism comprises a lever 72, pivoted to the scraper at the adjacentside and intermediate the ends of the lever, and a link 73 pivotallyconnects the lower end of each lever with the adjacent latch. When thelinks are in alinementwith the levers and the levers are vertical, thelatches will be held in engagement with the lugs. As soon however, asthe levers are moved and the links are brought out of alinement with thelevers, the lresiliency of the latches will move them to open position.The links and the levers 72 are of such length that when each link andthe lever is in alinement, the free end of the latch 69 to which thelink is connected, will be forced downwardly. It will be obvious thatwhen the lever and the link are out of alinement the distance betweenthe pivotal connection of the lever and the latch will be lessened andthe latch will move upward of itsFV own resiliency.

The operation of the device, as a whole, is as follows :-When thescraper is drawn into the pit to be loaded, it moves \rear wardly, andthe draft is on therlever 23 by way of the plates 46 and 47. rlFhistends to swing the lever 23 rearwardly until the latch 27 engages thenotch 26. rllhe spring 30 holds the latch in engagement with the notchand the scraper is then in loading position, the front edge .being downto its lowest point and ready to load. AS the scraper moves forwardlythe traction is on the crank pin 35, and so long as the latch 27 is inlengagement with the notch 26, the arms 15 cannot move forwardly, but areheld in rearmost position with the front edge of the scraper inloadingposition. As the scraper fills the gravel is pushed rearwardlyand will finally engage the plate 64, and move the said plate rearwardlyand upwardly. The rearward and upward move ment of the plate swings theleverand draws the link 58 forwardly, swinging the lever 52 in adirection to cause the upper end thereof to -disengage the latch 27 fromthe notch 26. As soon as this happens the draft on the clip 36 moves thearms 15, the link 31--32, and the lever 23 to the position of Fig. 2,raising the front end of the scraper so that it will no longer load. Assoon as this happens, the stop 50 will engage the stop plate 38 and thedraft will be transfesrred from the lever 23 to the stop plate "3 Therear end of the scraper may be operated manually if desired to raise orlower the same. The raising and lowering of the front end is however,entirely automatic and no attention is required to the scraper so far asconcerns the movement of the same'to loading and unloading position.Whenever the scraper is drawn rearwardly through traction on'the plates46 and 47 the front end will be lowered and the scraper will be held inlthis position.

When the traction is forwardly, the scraper will retain loading positionuntil the scraper is filled. The front end of the scraper will then belifted and the draft will be transferred as beforementioned. The stop 50may be adjusted to take the draft at any desired period in the liftingof the front end of the scraper. By means of the openings 55 of thelever 52 and the openings 59 of the link 58 the connection between theplates 64 and the releasing end of the lever 52 may be adjusted to suitconditions.

1. A scraper comprising a substantially lU-shaped body, front and rearpairs of wheels for supporting the body, a connection between each pairof wheels and the body for permitting either end ofthe body Tto beadjusted vertically with respect to the wheels to bring the body intoand out of operative position, means on the body and engaging theconnection at the front wheels for movmg the body vertically, said meanscomprising a lever pivoted to the body and mounted to swinglongitudinally thereof, a link connected at one end to the saidconnection and at the other end to the lever, and provided at each endwith means for connection with a draft cable for moving the scraper inopposite directions, a draft plate rigidly connected to the scraper andextending forwardly from the front end thereof and having an openingthrough which the adjacent end of the cable passes, a stop adjustable onthe cable for engaging the draft plate to relieve the link from theweight of the scraper when the link is moved forward to lift the body toinoperative position, a segment on the body with which the levercooperates, a stopl on the segment for limiting the rearward swingingmovement of the lever to a position with the body in operative position,normally active latch mechanism engaging the segment for preventingforward movement of the lever when the lever engages the stop, and meansoperated by the filling of the scraper for releasing the latch mechanismto permit the draft cable to move the link forward to raise the bodyinto inoperative position.

2 A scraper comprising a substantially U-shaped body, front and rearpairs of wheels for supporting the body, a connection between each pairof wheels and the body for permitting either end of the body to beadjusted vertically with respect to the wheels to bring the body intoand out of operative position, means on the body and engaging theconnection at the front Wheels for moving the body vertically, saidmeans comprising a lever'pivoted to the body and mounted to swinglongitudinally thereof, a link connected at one end to the saidconnection and at the other end to the lever, and provided at each endwith means for-connection with a draft.cable for moving the scraper inopposite directions,"a draft plate rigidly connected to the scraper andextending forwardly from the front end thereof and having an openingthrough which the adjacent end of the cable passes, a stop adjustable onthe cable for engaging the draft plate to relieve the-link from theweight of the scraper when the link is moved forward to lift the body toinoperative position, releasable latch mechanism for holding the linkwith the scraper body in inoperative position, and means operated by thefilling of the scraper for releasing the latch mechanism.

3. A scraper comprising a substantially U-shaped body, front and rearpairs of wheels for supporting the body, a connectio-n between each pairof wheels and the body for permitting the body Vto be adjustedvertically with respect to the wheels into and out of operativeposition, a link connected with the connection at the front wheels andmovable longitudinally of the scraper body for lifting the front end ofthe body with respect to the wheels when the link is moved forwardly andfor lowering the said end with respect to the wheels when the link ismoved rearwardly, a draft cable for moving the scraper in oppositedirections, the ends of the cable being connected to the ends of thelink, releasable latch mechanism for holding the link in rearwardposition withv the body in operative position, means operated by theillingof the scraper for releasing the latch mechanism to permit thedraft cable to move the link forwardly to raise the scraper body, saidmechanism comprising a plate hinged within the scraper body and adaptedto be swung upward at its rear end by the material filling the scraper,a rod mounted for guided movement toward and from the latch mechanism torelease the same, an adjustable connection between the rod and theplate, a draft plate rigidly connected to the scraper and extendingforwardly from the front end thereof and having an opening through whichthe adjacent end of the cable passes, and a stop adjustable on the cablefor engaging the draft plate to transfer the weight of the scraper fromthe link to the draft plate when the Scraper is lifted to inoperativeposition.

A scraper comprising a substantially U-shaped body, front and rear pairsof wheels for supporting the body, a connection between each pair ofwheels and the body for permitting the body to be adjusted verticallywith respect to the wheels into and out of operative position, a linkconnected with the connection at the front wheels and movablelongitudinally of the scraper body for lifting the front end withrespect to the wheels when the link is moved forwardly and for loweringthe said end with respect to the wheels when the link is movedrearwardly, a draft cable for moving the scraper in opposite directions,the ends of the cable being connected to the ends of the link,releasable latch mechanism for holding the link in rearward positionwith the body in operative position, means operated by the filling ofthe scraper for releasing the latch mechanism to permit the dra ft cableto move the link forwardly to raise the scraper body, a draft platerigidly connected to the scraper and extending forwardly from the frontend thereof and having an opening through which the adjacent end of thecable passes, and a stop adjustable on the cable for engaging the draftplate to transfer the weight of the scraper from the link to the draftplate when the scraper is lifted to inoperative position.

5. A scraper comprising a substantially U-shaped body, front and rearwheels for supporting the body, a'connection between the front wheelsand the body for permitting the front end of the body to be adjustedvertically with respect to the wheels into and out of operativeposition, a link connected with the said connection and movablelongitudinally of the scraper body for lifting the front end withrespect to the wheels when the link is moved forwardly and for loweringthe said end with respect to the wheels when the link is movedrearwardly, a draft cable for moving the scraper in opposite directions,the ends of the cable being connected to the ends of the link, re-

Maaate leasable latch mechanism for holding the link in rearwardposition with the body in operative position, means operated by thefilling of the scraper for releasing the latch mechanism to permit thedraft cable to move the link forwardly to raise the scraper body, saidmechanism comprising a plate hinged within the scraper body and adaptedto be swung upward material filling the scraper, a rod mounted forguided movement toward and from the latch mechanism to release the same,an adjustable connection between the rod and the plate, and means inconnection with the cable and the scraper body for transferring thedraftfrom the link to the scraper body when the said body is ininoperative position.

6. A scraper comprising a substantially U-shaped body, front and rearwheels for supporting the body, a connection between the front wheelsand the body for permitting thefront end of the body to be adjustedvertically with respect to the wheels into and out of operativeposition, a link connected with the said connection and movablelongitudinally of the scraper body for lifting the body with res ect tothe wheels when the link is moved orw'ardly and for lowering the bodywith respect to the wheels when the link is moved rearwardly, a draftcable for moving the scraper in opposite di'- rections, the ends of thecable being connected to the ends of the link, releasable latchmechanism for holding the link in rearward position with the body inoperative position, means operated bv the filling of the scraper forreleasing the latch mechanism to permit the draft cable to move the linkforwardly to raise the scraperbody, said mechanism comprising a platehinged within the scraper body and. adapted to be swung upward at itsrear end by the material filling the scraper, a rod mounted for 'guidedmovement toward and from the latch y mechanism to release the same, andan adjustable connection between the rod and the lowering the body withrespect to the wheels.

a draft cable for moving the scraper in opposite direction, the ends ofthe cable being connected to the ends of the link, releasable latchmechanism for holding the link in when the link is moved rearwardly,

at its rear end by the wardly, a draft 'inoperative position.

rearward position with the body in o erative position, means operated bythe lling of the scraper for releasing the latch mechanism to permit thedraft cable to move the link forwardly to raise the scraper body, andmeans in connection with the 'cable and the scraper body fortransferring the draft from the link to the body when the body is ininoperative position.

8. A scraper ofthe 'character specified, comprising a scraper body,front wheels for supporting the body, aconnection between the wheels andthe body for permitting they front of the body to be adjusted verticallywith respect to the wheels into and out o-f operative position, means onthe body and connected with the connection between the wheels and thbody for lifting the body with respect to the4 wheels when the saidmeans is moved forwardly and for lowering the body when the said meansis moved rearcable for moving the scraper directions, the ends of thecable in opposite for bein ,connected with the said means movlng thesaid means in opposite directions whentractionis exerted on the cable,

latch mechanism for holding the adjusting means in rear position, saidmechanism being releasable, means operated by the filling of the scraperfor releasing the latch mechanism, a draft plate rigidly connected tothe scraper and extending forwardly from the front end thereof andhaving an which the adjacent end of the cable passes, and a stopadjustable. on the cable for engaging the draft plate when openingthrough the adjusting means 1s 1n forward position.

9. A scraper of the character specified, comprising a scraper body,front wheels for supporting the body, a connection between the wheelsand the body for permitting the front of the body to be adjustedvertically with respect to the wheels into and out of operativeposition, means on the body and connected with the connection betweenthe wheels and the body for lifting the body with respect to the wheelswhen the said means is moved forwardly and for lowering the body whenthe said means is moved rearwardly, a-draft @able for moving the scra erin opposite directions, the ends of the ca le being connected with the4said means for moving the said means in o posite directionsl whentraction is eXerte on the cable, latch mechanism for holding theadjusting means in rearward position, said mechanism being releasable,means operated by the filling of the scraper for releasing the latchmechanism, and means in connection with thebody of the scraper and thedraftcable for transferring the draft from the adjusting means to thebody when the body 1s in 10. A scraper of comprising a scraper body,front wheels for the character specified,

Mscv

supporting the body, a connection between Vinitting the 4end of the bodyeach pair of Wheels and the body for perto be adjusted "vertically .withrespect to the wheels into .and out of operative position, means on thebody and connected with the connection between the wheels and the bodyfor lifting the body with respect tdthe wheels when the said means ismoved forwardly and'for lowering the body when the said means is movedrearwardly, a draft cable for ,moving the scraper in oppositedirections, the ends .i ""of the cable being connected with the saidmeansy for moving the said means in opposite directions whentrac'tion isexerted onl the cable, latch mechanism ,for holding the adjusting meansin rearward position, said mechanism being releasable,'and meansoperated by the'filling of the scraper for releasing the latchmechanism.

l1. A scraper of the character specified,

' comprising a wheel supported body, draft mechanism for the body, meanson` the 'scraper for moving the front end of the body vertically withrespect tothe wheels into and Iout of operative position, said meansbeing mountedto be moved by the draft mechanism for the scraper when thesaid mechanism is moved longitudinally with respect to the body in aforward direction, releasable latch mechanism for holding the said meansin rearward position with the scraper in operative position, and meansoperated by the filling of the scraper for releasing the latchmechanism, and means in i connection with the scraper body and the draftmechanism for transferring the draft from the said moving means for thefront end of the body directly to the scraper body.

12. A scraper of the character specified, comprising a Wheel supportedbody, draft mechanism` for the body, means on the scraper 'for movingthe front end of the body vertically with respect .to the wheels intoand out of operative position, said means being mounted to be moved bythe draft mechanism for the scraper when the said mechanism moveslongitudinally of the body in a forward direction, releasable latchmechanism for holding the said means in rearward position with thescraper in operative position, and means operated by the filling of thescraper for releasing the latch?,

mechanism.

13. A scraper of the character specified, comprising a wheel supportedbody, means l on the scraper for moving the front end of the bodyvertically with respect to the -wheels into and out of operativeposition,

same, and means operated by the filling of the scraper for releasing thelatch mecha nism. 4

HENRY T. SYKES. Witnesses:

JAMES M. SMITH, EDWARD L. BUSH.

